la vida de los muertos

Today is the Day of the Dead, El Dia de los Muertos. 

In the past, I've felt like celebrating the dead was dark and a bit creepy. 

But recently, I've embraced this Latin cultural practice. 

Now, every year, we set up our own "ofrenda," our little memorial shrine for our loved ones who are no longer with us. Mostly grandparents and great-grandparents. My dad. And this year, adding Nate's grandpa. 

Their photos featured, surrounded by flowers, lit by candlelight, and placed above objects that remind us of them. For Nate's grandfather Ralph, a screwdriver that belonged to him. For Nate's great-grandmother, a playing card. For my dad, an old film camera and a hotwheels car. 

And it's more than just a memorial for those of us who knew and loved them, who cherish memories with them. It's a practice in passing on those memories to our children. The playing card leads to stories of how Grandma Beard was a joker, and loved playing with her grandkids. The screwdriver brings up the tales of projects done together and his encouraging nature. The hotwheels car - a Shelby Cobra - leads to me retelling how he said I wasn't named after the car, but he did have a massive poster of it in the garage... 

As the years are going by, I'm starting to see our children remember the stories. They'll ask for them or tell them themselves. 

And so I realize that in remembering the dead, we allow them to live on. 

We miss you all. We are grateful for your shaping of our lives, big and small. 

We wish you were here with us, and not pictured in a tiny ofrenda. 

But we know also, that you are here in us.